THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,469 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,469 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
General  | General | 3/22/2012

Sutton leads the baseball life

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Perfect Game
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Forgive Arizona Diamondbacks’ television sportscaster Daron Sutton if he feels like he’s been working at his career – a career he absolutely loves – for as long as he can remember.

“I kind of feel like my profession started when I was born because I had the unique family upbringing of being involved in Major League Baseball with my father, Don Sutton, who played three years in the big leagues before I was born … and his career was so long he played until I was a freshman in college,” Sutton told Perfect Game on a recent sun-kissed morning in the Valley of the Sun.

“Even though I wasn’t getting paid, I kind of felt like I was doing on-the-job training learning about the game, being around the game, soaking up how to handle yourself in a clubhouse and understanding how difficult this game truly is.”

Sutton was speaking from the beautiful, two-year-old, $100 million Salt River Fields at Talking Stick complex the Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies call home for the duration of their annual spring training Cactus League seasons. Sutton, 42, is beginning his 13th season broadcasting Major League baseball and has recently assumed added responsibilities as a spokesman for Perfect Game.

His story is at once intriguing and enviable, that of a young man who always knew he wanted to be involved in Major League Baseball, even if he realized in college that he didn’t possess the skills to pursue a professional playing career of his own.

Sutton, a right-handed pitcher like his father, played collegiately for four seasons, first at UC-Irvine before transferring to and graduating from Auburn University-Montgomery (Ala.) with a communications degree in 1992. He also spent a couple of seasons in the minor leagues in the then-California Angels organization.

“Because of my (upbringing), I looked around and I knew what a major-leaguer looked liked and I wasn’t that guy,” Sutton said with a knowing smile.

He got into broadcasting at the minor league level and got his first big-league job with the Angels in 2000 on the radio side of their broadcasts. He worked two years with the Angels on radio, five years with the Milwaukee Brewers on the television side and is beginning his sixth season as the D’backs’ television play-by-play man for Arizona’s local broadcast affiliate.

Sutton did, in fact, grow up in Major League clubhouses and dugouts. His father Don, who was voted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998, had one of the more storied pitching careers in big league history.

Don Sutton pitched 23 years in the majors, the first 15 and the 23rd with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent three seasons with the Angels, three with the Brewers, two with the Houston Astros and one with the Oakland A’s before pitching the final game of his career with the Dodgers on Aug. 9, 1988. He had made his big-league debut with the same club on April 14, 1966.

During that durable 23-year career, Don Sutton won 324 games with a career ERA of 3.26 – he won 233 games with a 3.09 ERA during his Dodgers career – and was a four-time All-Star. He finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 1976 after finishing 21-10 with a 3.06 ERA.

“I was lucky,” Daron Sutton said. “My dad and I are very different personalities and to this day very, very different people. But there’s one thing that I will always be grateful to him for and it’s simple and something a lot of dads do: he took me to work with him. He let me be a part of his work and as long as I stayed out of trouble at home and as long as I respected the area and the adults that were there working, I was welcome to come most every time.”

Sutton’s memories are priceless. He was on the field and in the dugout as a teenage clubhouse worker when his father won his 300th game on June 18, 1986, a complete game three-hitter against the Texas Rangers. He remembers being on the field as a batboy when Phil Niekro was tossed from a ballgame for scuffing the ball, and being front-and-center during a bench-clearing brawl between the Brewers and the A’s when his father was pitching in Milwaukee.

“I’ve seen some amazing things,” Sutton said. “I saw Roger Clemens pitch from the on-deck circle because I was a batboy (and) I remember baseball in Montreal, which a lot of younger people aren’t even aware of – I was very lucky (Don) took me to work.”

Sutton first got involved with Perfect Game in 2008 when, through his work at FOX Sports Net, he was asked to work on the television broadcast for the PG/Aflac All-American Classic, held that year at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

“I was interested and intrigued, and I was excited,” he said of the invitation to work on the Classic broadcast. “I didn’t know anything about it, to be honest; I knew about the Aflac duck but I really didn’t know about showcases. Now as a parent of a child who plays sports, you understand showcases and tournaments – even if it’s girls’ soccer – because it’s so prevalent in youth sports these days.

“Once I got out there (at the 2008 Classic), once I got to see the parents, see the kids, see the joy that they had playing in this game, I was hooked and I hoped they’d ask me back to do it again, and they since have,” he continued. “My relationship has evolved from a relationship with the television network to a relationship with Perfect Game.”

He moved into a role as the emcee at the Classic’s awards banquet and is now serving as an official spokesman for Perfect Game. He has spent this week in the Valley recording videos for PG and BaseballWebTV.com, speaking with PG alumni who are now in the big leagues, or at least trying to stay on a big-league roster.

Sutton is a big PG fan and said he wouldn’t have agreed to become a spokesman for the company if he wasn’t 100 percent convinced of its integrity.

“The way they handle things, I really enjoy seeing it, I really enjoy the honesty that they share with the athletes; it’s not just a money-grab, it’s not come-one, come-all where we’re here to pump you up and then kick you to the curb,” he said. “There seems to be an on-going relationship (with the prospect).

“I’m more than fine with the way they do things and I think for me I’m excited to learn more so that on an occasional night-to-night basis when I’m talking to baseball fans, I can kind of educate people about what this is all about.”

In Sutton’s mind – the same mind that absorbed all the lessons his Hall of Fame father bestowed upon him and that has made him one of MLB’s most respected broadcasters – the possibilities are endless. And he wants to make sure he stays involved.

“For now it’s going to live on the internet, but I think all of us have visions of a monthly television show someday. I really think there is enough content there,” he said of his work with PG. “There’s a passion for youth sports tying into football’s countdown to signing day, there’s a passion for ‘Where did they come from and can we track them?’ and there’s a lot of interested families that want to know what this all about.”

Sutton is more than willing to explain.
Give us your feedback
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/12/2026

AZ All-State Ready to Take Place

Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, eight teams will head to Goodyear Ballpark for the 2026 PG Arizona All-State tournament, setting the stage for what should be an exciting few days of baseball. With teams traveling from across the city, the field will be packed with talent and plenty of championship contenders. Among the teams competing in 16U are AZ Select, Marucci Athletics 2028 Grannis, Overfly 2028, Phoenix Phillies, Team Dinger 2028, T-Rex East Valley, USA Scout Team AZ 16U, and West Coast Ghost AZ 16U. Each team enters the weekend with its own strengths and goals, creating several intriguing storylines to follow throughout pool play and bracket action. One of the biggest teams to watch this weekend will be 10-10, T-Rex East Valley. Whether it's dominant pitching, high-powered offenses, or strong defensive play, T-Rex East Valley has already shown they can compete at a high level this season. A few...
Read More
College | Story | 6/11/2026

Collegiate Freshman All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Postseason Awards | Collegiate All Americans First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Alonzo Alvarez Miami FR 0.341 0.439 0.551 40 57 13 2 6 32 3 1B Ethin Bingaman Auburn FR 0.330 0.415 0.581 60 71 9 0 15 50 4 2B Ethan Ball Virginia Tech FR 0.310 0.420 0.660 43 63 18 1 17 52 3 3B Nico Partida Texas A&M FR 0.306 0.408 0.550 45 55 8 0 12 43 4 SS Jett Kenady California FR 0.320 0.350 0.573 36 66 17 1 11 34 1 IF Linkin Garcia Texas Tech FR 0.338 0.387 0.489 53 78 21 1 4 59 1 OF Angel Laya Oregon FR 0.296 0.396 0.538 49 66 10 1 14 47 5 OF Anthony Pack Jr. Texas FR 0.359 0.485 0.597 58 74 16 0 11 52 20 OF Jacob Parker* Mississippi State FR 0.339 0.449 0.732 51 57 10 1 18 62 7 OF Teddy Tokheim Stanford FR 0.352 0.414 0.704 40 70 19 0 17 47 0 UT Drew Grego Nebraska FR 0.326 0.417 0.531 33 57 13 1 7 44 5 DH Enzo Infelise Cincinnati FR 0.374...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

PG East WWBA to Get Underway

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the summer’s premier events returns to the Hoover area this week as the 2026 Perfect Game East WWBA Championship gets underway. Now in its seventh year, the event has become a staple on the summer travel baseball calendar, bringing together some of the top organizations and prospects from across the country. A total of 132 teams will compete across three age divisions, including 38 teams in the 15U division, 48 teams in the 16U division, and 46 teams in the 17U division. Past champions include organizations such as Top Gun Team Alabama, EBC, USA Prime Alabama, and defending champion USA Prime Southeast 15U. As always, the tournament field features some of the nation’s top-ranked players. In the 15U division, all eyes will be on Alabama right-hander Tristan Blalock, the No. 23 ranked player nationally in the 2029 class and the top ranked player in Alabama. Blalock...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/11/2026

Team Elite Takes Another PG Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After capturing last year’s championship, Team Elite Scout 14U returned to Hoover looking to prove their success was no fluke. Four days later, they accomplished exactly that. Behind strong pitching, timely hitting, and the confidence that has defined the team throughout the tournament, Team Elite Scout 14U defeated SBA Bolts National 14U to claim the 2026 PG 14U National Elite Championship and secure back-to-back titles. “It’s awesome,” Team Elite Coach Blankenship said. “This is our first event of the year, so it’s good to get it to start with them, and they won it last year, so I know they are excited to do that back-to-back, so it’s pretty awesome.” The championship game showcased many of the same qualities that carried Team Elite through the tournament. Ryan Johnson delivered 4.1 scoreless innings on the mound, allowing just two hits...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Lonestar Finds Success with the Beast

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following an exciting weekend filled with standout performances at the 17u Beast of the East Invitational, Lonestar Baseball Club National capped off its impressive run by earning co-champion honors after the championship game was cut short due to inclement weather with a 6-4 score in their favor. Lonestar's strong start to the summer was fueled by dominant pitching performances and an explosive offensive attack throughout the lineup.  “It was definitely fun to see our boys compete the way they did against solid competition and have the success they did,” Lonestar National head coach Brad Dydalewicz said. “It was a great team effort to start the summer season. This team is a special group of ball players and spectacular young men that play hard and compete their tails off. They enjoy playing together and have a ton of fun on the field. It makes it fun to coach for...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

SE Summer Showdown Preview

Will Dembo
Article Image
East Cobb will host some of the top teams from near and far as over 100 different teams spanning the 13-18u age divisions will compete for a championship at the PG Southeast Summer Showdown to help their summer start strong. The highly anticipated premier Perfect Game event will commence with pool play on Thursday, June 11th while champions will be crowned on Monday, July 15th. The 13u Major division will be the youngest age group competing this weekend, but the talent will still be on full display. Doc Baseball American headlines the 11-team tournament, entering the weekend as the top ranked team in the Southeast Region, and the No. 7 team nationally. 14u will play as another major tournament and will feature three nationally ranked teams, including the No. 8 ranked 13u squad, East Cobb Astros 13u, who will compete in an older division for the second time this year. The No. 27 and No....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Midwest Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Adan Rojas (2027, Streamwood, Ill.) turned in one of the more dominant pitching performances of the weekend, striking out 10 over 5 innings while consistently dictating at-bats. The fastball worked 77–80 mph, topping at 82, and he showed the ability to elevate and miss bats when needed. His slider at 67–70 mph played as a real separator pitch, generating uncomfortable swings and late decisions. Showed strong tempo on the mound and never allowed hitters to settle in rhythm. What stood out most was his ability to maintain attack mode while still showing feel for sequencing.   Cruz Jaramillo (2030, Mount Pleasant, Wisc.) brought consistent energy to the lineup all weekend and was a tough out from start to finish. Finished with 8 hits over the tournament. The swing is compact with a strong intent to impact, and he does a nice job staying on time with his stride. When he...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/10/2026

Top Prospects Set to Shine at Florida WS

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The Florida World Series returns to Fort Myers this weekend, bringing together teams from across the state for one of Florida’s premier summer events. The four-day tournament will feature competition in the 14U through 18U age divisions as teams battle for a World Series championship. From June 11-14, some of Florida’s top prospects will take the field looking to lead their teams to a title. The 18U division features some of the tournament’s top talent, including five players ranked among the top 500 prospects nationally, three of whom play for Swamp Baseball. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft along with right-hand pitcher Tyler Reeder will play for Swamp Baseball. Raber is a Fort Myers native and is committed to John Melvin Christian College. He has been one of Swamp’s top offensive contributors this season. The outfielder owns a .873 OPS with...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Organizational Champ. Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Ernesto “AJ” Juarez (‘30 | AZ) Smooth LHH - Handles the bottom part of the zone, grabbing 2 doubles & 2RBI for Desert Ghost National ⚡️#OrgChamp pic.twitter.com/EF1qEET7yH — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) June 5, 2026 Ernesto "AJ" Juarez (2030 | Chandler, AZ) The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitter and pitcher put together a strong all-around weekend for Desert Ghost National, consistently producing at the plate while also showing value on the mound. He finished 7-for-13 with four RBI, six runs scored, and multiple extra-base hits, including three doubles, while maintaining steady contact throughout the event. Juarez showed a balanced offensive profile with gap-to-gap production and the ability to drive the baseball in key situations. On the mound, he also contributed innings with a solid left-handed look, attacking hitters and competing with...
Read More
College | Story | 6/10/2026

Collegiate All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Postseason Awards First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech JR .397 .519 .772 85 87 16 3 20 78 15 1B Tague Davis Louisville SO .355 .443 .848 68 82 10 1 34 98 4 2B Jarren Advincula Georgia Tech JR .434 .503 .629 74 111 16 2 10 66 16 3B Ace Reese Mississippi State JR .336 .432 .721 73 83 23 0 24 74 1 SS Roch Cholowsky UCLA JR .320 .452 .636 73 74 10 0 20 60 1 IF Tyson Leblanc Kansas JR .341 .425 .706 64 87 12 3 25 69 11 OF Drew Burress Georgia Tech JR .358 .473 .657 82 91 22 3 16 60 10 OF Landon Hairston Arizona State SO .400 .509 .860 82 94 20 2 28 81 11 OF Caden Sorrell Texas A&M JR .341 .434 .743 67 77 20 1 23 76 11 UT Quinton Coats Cincinnati SO .339 .430 .738 62 84 13 1 28 79 10 DH Daniel Jackson* Georgia JR .389 .492 .809 86 100 13 1 31 86 29 TWP Evan Dempsey FGCU JR .333 .412 .536 57 79 18 0 10 46 15 First...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.